Download digest #: 3476 title hitler - The Described and Captioned Media

DESCRIPTION
Vintage film chronicles the rise to power and impact of Adolf Hitler. With nationalism as his theme, Hitler
reorganized his Nazi Party after World War I. Using brutal force, mesmerizing oration, and guile, he became
Germany's chancellor in 1933 and began his drive to rule Europe. His egomania led to World War II, the deaths
of millions, and changed the Western world.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
Subject Area: World History
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Standard: Understands the causes and global consequences of World War II
§ Benchmark: Understands the rise of Nazism and how it was received by society (e.g., the essence and
elements of Nazi ideology as represented in Mein Kampf and the Nazi party platform, and their use of
terror against "enemies of the state"; the propaganda techniques employed by the Nazis to promote
their ideas; political debate and opposition to the Nazi and Fascist movements in Germany and Italy in
the 1920s and 1930s) (See Instructional Goals #2 and #3)
Subject Area: Historical Understanding
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Standard: Understands the historical perspective
§ Benchmark: Analyzes the values held by specific people who influenced history and the role their
values played in influencing history (See Instructional Goals #1 and #3)
INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
1. To examine the life of Adolf Hitler and his impact on Germany and the world.
2. To discuss the rise of the Nazi party and its ideals.
3. To explore the role that Hitler played in World War II.
VOCABULARY
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propaganda
anti-Semitism
Nazi
Treaty of Versailles
revolution
oratory
Communism
nationalism
Reichsland
chancellor
democracy
concentration camp
Führer
Nordic
Third Reich
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BEFORE SHOWING
1. Review highlights of the history of Germany from 1900 to 1925. Include:
a. World War I
b. Treaty of Versailles
c. “Bloody Week,” Berlin in 1918
d. French occupation in 1923
2. List and identify the different political parties in Germany at the time of Hitler.
a. Social Democratic
b. Monarchists
c. Communists
d. Catholic Center Party
e. Sparticans
f. Workers’ Party/Nazi
3. Review the parliamentary system of government.
4. Briefly describe the Allied and Axis forces in World War II.
5. Obtain a World War I era map or a map of Europe after World War I. Compare to a modern map of
Europe and discuss the changes.
DURING SHOWING
Discussion Items and Questions
1. View the video more than once, with one showing uninterrupted.
2. Pause after Hitler becomes a member of the Workers’ Party. Discuss how his involvement in this effort
shaped his ideas.
3. Pause after Hitler is released from jail.
a. Explain how he entered politics and how he mobilized his party.
b. Discuss why he was treated well in prison.
4. Pause after Hitler is made Chancellor.
a. Review the parliamentary system of government.
b. Describe the political maneuvering that made him Chancellor.
5. Pause after Hitler becomes Führer of the German people. Discuss how he accomplished this legally.
6. Pause before Hitler annexes Austria.
a. What was Hitler building up to?
b. Why was his plan not anticipated by other world powers?
7. Pause before the Americans join the war. Discuss why Hitler’s conquests had been so successful.
8. Pause after Hitler commits suicide. Discuss what caused Hitler’s downfall.
AFTER SHOWING
Discussion Items and Questions
1. Analyze Hitler’s statement “Conscience is a Jewish invention.”
2. Hitler was directly and indirectly affected by the events of his time.
a. Describe the effect Hitler’s service in the army during World War I had on his political ideas.
b. Explain the influence of the 1918 revolution in Berlin on Hitler and his future activities.
3. Briefly outline the process that Hitler followed to bring his Nazi party into power during 1923 and 1924.
4. Hitler and his party tried a putsch, or take-over, of Munich.
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a. What was the outcome of this revolt?
b. How did this event change his policies?
Discuss Hitler’s vision for Germany’s future.
a. What was the Nordic myth? Why was this so ironic?
b. Why did he have a grudge against France and the Slavs?
Who were the storm troopers? How did Hitler use them effectively to help support his rise to power?
How did the combination of unemployment, hunger, the people’s desperation, and the nationalism of
Hitler help him gain followers?
Many industrialists came to Hitler’s support.
a. What were their motives for joining and financing Hitler?
b. How did Hitler use these reasons to his advantage?
How was Hitler able to keep the German people believing he didn’t want violence and yet continue a
reign of terror at the same time?
Describe what Hitler did to draw support for himself and his party.
Hitler was an expert at maneuvering the political system.
a. When he couldn’t win by a majority vote, to what tactic did he switch?
b. How did the fire at Reichstag play right into Hitler’s hand?
c. How was he able to maneuver himself to be the only one who could save Germany?
Now that Hitler was master of Germany, how did he spread his influence across the country?
How was Hitler able to ignore the League of Nations and the Treaty of Versailles and rebuild Germany’s
armed forces? Why did no other nations stop him?
Describe the political issues behind the “Night of the Long Knives.”
List the main reasons Hitler set up concentration camps.
Explain how Hitler would captivate his audiences during a speech.
Why were the British content to be fooled by Hitler?
How did both the British and the French work unknowingly but efficiently for Hitler?
Describe how Hitler’s squabbles with his generals influenced the war.
What was Hitler’s final solution?
Examine Hitler’s invasion of Europe.
As his defeat became imminent, Hitler alluded to a miracle weapon that would win the war. Identify this
weapon.
Describe the plot to kill Hitler and its effects on der Führer and on the war.
Applications and Activities
1. Examine Hitler’s struggle and quest for power.
a. How did it drive him through his life?
b. Were any of his ideals based on true belief or only on what would lead him to power?
2. Research and compare Hitler’s rise to power with that of other leaders, such as Mussolini, Napoleon, and
Hirohito.
3. Hitler relied heavily on propaganda to gain power.
a. Define and give examples of propaganda.
b. Explain why it is such an effective tool.
c. Describe how Hitler used it so effectively.
d. Give examples of propaganda in the present society.
4. Trace Hitler’s career from worker and solider to Chancellor and finally Führer.
5. Read selections from Mein Kampf that illustrate Hitler’s ideals.
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6. One opinion is that Hitler lost the war because he sent all the top minds out of the country.
a. Hypothesize what might have happened if Germany had made the atom bomb first.
b. Discuss what Hitler could have done to bring these top minds onto his team.
7. Describe Hitler’s “finest hour.” Support opinion with facts taken from the video.
8. Compare and contrast the two armies of Hitler, the SA and the SS.
9. Research and report on a topic connected to Hitler and the European front in World War II, such as, the
Holocaust, D-day, and V-2 rockets.
10. Examine the effects of Hitler’s Germany on today’s society.
RELATED RESOURCES
Captioned Media Program
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Heil Hitler: Confessions of a Hitler Youth #8271
How Hitler Lost the War #3046
Plot to Kill Hitler, The #8348
Germany: Past and Present #3132
Josef Mengele: Medical Madman of Auschwitz #8291
We Must Never Forget: The Story of the Holocaust #8219
After Pearl Harbor, 1941-1945 #7684
World Wide Web
The following Web sites complement the contents of this guide; they were selected by professionals who have
experience in teaching deaf and hard of hearing students. Every effort was made to select accurate, educationally
relevant, and “kid-safe” sites. However, teachers should preview them before use. The U.S. Department of
Education, the National Association of the Deaf, and the Captioned Media Program do not endorse the sites and
are not responsible for their content.
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THE HISTORY PLACE: THE RISE OF HITLER
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/index.htm
A nicely organized textual history of Hitler’s youth, rise to power, and death.
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HILTER’S RISE TO POWER http://pw2.netcom.com/~giardina/adolf.html
Hitler site with links to other textual information about der Führer. Comprehensive chart details his rise
to power.
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MEIN KAMPF: HITLER’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY http://www.crusader.net/texts/mk/index.html
The text of Hitler’s autobiography.
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GERMAN PROPAGANDA ARCHIVES http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/
An extensive collection of propaganda materials used by the Nazis in Germany.
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THE HOLOCAUST: A TRAGIC LEGACY http://library.advanced.org/12663/
A well-done Holocaust site made by students with background information, a timeline, and a virtual
concentration camp.
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BBC: THE RISE OF HITLER http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/modern/hitler/hitlehtm.htm
Information on the Treaty of Versailles and other influences on the rise of Hitler.
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